Hinge construction



Mar'ch3, 1942. c. E. CAMPBELL 2,275,128

HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l k? I "I; 1: 2 $4 30 all/)2);

29 INVENTOR. 2

ATTORNEY.

March 3, 1942. c. E. CAMPBELL HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1940 Z; Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ampb ed ATTORNEY.

S6/59 l I C/zarZeSiT 6 BY Wf/ March 3, 1942. c. E. CAMPBELL 2,275,128

HINGE CONSTRUCTION F iled March 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Gfiarlas E M25966 BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 3, 1942 HINGE CONSTRUCTION Charles 1:. Campbell, South Bend, lnd assignor of one-thth to Walter E. Schirmer, Buchanan,

Mich.

Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,577

12 Claims.

This invention relates to hinge constructions, and more particularly is directed to a hinging arrangement for doors of refrigerators, cabinets, lockers, and other analogous'closure members in which it is desirable that the door be capable of swinging open from either vertical edge.

It is commonly known that in connection with the domestic mechanical refrigerators of well known types, care must be exercised by the purchaser to insurethat the door swing in the proper direction for the location in the home where the refrigerator is placed. In other words, the purchaser must specify either a right hand or left hand door, depending upon the location. This requires that the manufacturer carry both types of doors in stock and that the refrigeraton'as a whole. be designed so that either type of door can be readily mounted thereon.

However, the main objection outside of the cost of duplicating this mechanism, is the fact that the purchaser may desire to move the refrigerator to a new location in' which the door may not be conveniently swung in the desired manner. This results in an awkward arrangement, and may necessitate many extra steps daily by. the ,user of the refrigerator.

The same objections are of course true in connection with cabinets, lockers and similar structures where it is desired that entrance may be had to the same'from either side of the door opening, this sometimes being impossible with the present types of constructions.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a hinge structure of this general class in which the door may be swung open from either vertical edge; that is to say, duplicate hinging arrangements are provided on each vertical edge of the door, these being simple and rugged in construction, whereby the door may be opened in either direction without disturbing the hinging arrangement and without imposing any undue stresses on the structure.

In accomplishing this object, one of the prime factors in the development of the present construction is to provide a hinge structure that would be capable of adaptation to the customary type of door now in use so that little or no change would be required in the dies now employed in forming such doors and door openings, and allowing ready conversion of equipment now manufactured to the present construction.

In developing a construction of this type, one of the fundamental principles involved was to provide a hinge arrangement which, when the door edge was engaged or latched thereto, would rigidly support the door in a vertical direction and would securely lock the door against with Y ent invention resides in the provision of a condrawing movement from the hing'e'so that the hinge structure could function in the desired manner as a hinge whenever its corresponding door edge was secured in locked engagement therewith. At the same time, however, the design was arranged so that upon release of the simple locking mechanism, the door edge could easily swing away from the associated hinge and move into a position normal to the plane of the door opening to allow full access to the interior of the compartment which the door closed.

Still another object accomplished by the presstruction which produces a positive seal about the door to prevent any thermal losses therethroughj Due to the novel type of hinging struc ture, it was necessary that the sealing means be given special attention to insure that an adequate seal would be present whenthe hinge was functioning as a support for the door edge, and also when the door was unlatched from the hinge.

Another object of the present invention was to provide a construction in which the hinge and the associated engaging parts of the door proper should all be made from simple stampings of flat plate or the like whereby the cost of manufacture could be kept within the desired range and not render the use of the construction prohibitive.

With these and other objects and advantages in mind, it is believed that the present invention will be more clearly understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings and specification forming a part hereof, which disclose in detail the construction and operation of preferred forms of the invention.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a door opening provided with a hinge structure of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a door engageable with the hinge structure shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the door structure in closed position;

,Eigure 4'is a detailed sectional view taken on line l4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the latching mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of hinge structure; 1

iii

Figure '1 is a side elevational view of the hinge structure of Figure 6 with the door in engagement therewith; 1

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure '1;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a door structure for use with the hinge of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a sectional view through a still further modified form of hinge structure;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line |2-l2 of Figure 11; I

Figure 13 is a detail view of the upper end of the hinge structure shown in Figure 11; and

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view through a further modified form of construction.

Referring now in detail to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, a door opening is indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 and isbound at its lateral edges by vertically extending walls 6, as shownin Figure 3. Secured on the walls 6 are substantially identical hinge structures comprising the angle members 1 which seat in 'recesessed face portions of the edgesi of the door opening and are secured therein by means of screws or the like indicated diagrammatically at 8. Projecting normally from the planar portions of the members 1 secured in the recess of the door'edges are flange portions which, at their outer ends, are reversely curved as indicated at 9 in Figure 1 to fit about a vertically extending hinge pin 10 which is disposed slightly outwardly of the plane of the door opening.

The hinge pins l0 therefore extend for substantially the full height of the door 'opening, and on opposite sides of the portions 9 are engaged by the reversely turned portions 12 of the movable portion 13 of the hinge assembly. This movable portion comprises a sheet metal stamping which may be plated if desired, which extends parallel to the secured portions of the hinge plate 1 but spaced forwardly thereof to form an elongated gap therebetween which is normally sealed by a suitable resilient sealing member 14 of any desired or preferred construction. The member 13 is then provided with a channel-shaped portion extending at right angles to the sealed portion and having the defining walls 15 and I6 spaced apart to define a channel-shaped recess 11 which is closed at its inner end by the transversely extending web portion l8. This channel is so arranged that the wall 15 thereof, when in normal position, lies against the defining surface of the vertical walls 6 of the door opening and the channels therefor extending vertically along opposite sides of the door opening. The blank from which the channel is formed is provided with tabs at the upper and lower portions of the wall 16 which are folded inwardly into the channel, as indicated at 19 in Figures 1 and 4, and

. sures the door against vertical bration within the hinge member I3, and also may be spot welded to the adjacent surface of the wall l5 if so desired. The tabs or spacing portions I9 in the channel preferably have angularly inclined edges 20 which converge toward the rear end or closed end of the channel for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

It will be apparent with the construction thus far described that the portion I3 of the hinge assembly is free to rotate about the hinge pin 10 into and out of the door opening, but when alined against the side walls of the door opening, the member 13 presses against the sealing strips 14 in such manner as to provide a thermal insulating seal between the defining wall of the doc opening and the hinge construction.

Consideringnow the door structure adapted to be received within the hinges, the door oomprises an outer closure member 25, which may be lacquered or enameled in any suitable manner, provided with reentrant portions 26 forming a bead or edging entirely around the door. S cured on the surfaces of the reentrant pot tions 26'is a body member 21 of generally rectangular form, which is offset inwardly from the plane of the reentrant portions 26 to provides chamber in the door which may be filled with insulating material 28', such as cork, mineral wool. or any other suitable insulating medium. provides an insulated door with the defining edge portions not the body member 21 being arranged to lie within the opening defined by the channel portions l5-I 6 of the hinge members ll.

The side defining portions 28 of the body member 21 have normally extending flange portions 29 which are secured, as by welding or the like,

to the reentrant edges 26 of the door member.

In order to seal the door with respect to the hinge, suitable sealing means form of rubber tubing if so desired, is secured to the inner face of the flange portions 23 by cementing or in any other suitable manner, and when the door is in closed position, engages "the face portions 32 which connect the channel portion of the movable hinge member with the reversely curved portions l2. Disposed inwardb of the door opening and secured to the inner face of the flange portions 29 are angle shaped strips- 33 which project normal to the plane of the door member 25 and parallel to the side wall portions 28 of the body member 21. The members 33 are therefore adapted to enter into the channels formed between the portions l5 and 16 of the.

hinge, and are so constructed as to havediagonally extending ends 34 which engage the diagonal edges 20 of the spacing portions IQ of the hinge member sothat the door is wedged into position in the channel to thereby prevent any, relative vertical movement between the door and the hinge member 13. This wedging action inmovement or viserves to support the weight of the door upon the hinge member, and consequently when the hinge is swung around the pin 10, the door is entirely carried thereby.

n will be noted that the wan portions 16 of the hinge member 13 are provided adjacent their longitudinal center with an outstruck boss portion 35, which portion is provided with a cam face 36 and an arcuately curved surface 31. A suitable latch dog 38 is carried within the body member 21 by the housing 39, and is mounted upon the pin 40 for pivotal movement in accordance with the operation of the control plunger 42, which plunger extends through the houslng 39;and outwardly through the door 25 to an operating button 43 secured to the end thereof. Asuitable spring 44 is biased within the housing 39 against the extending leg portion 45 of the dog 38 so as to normally urge the dog outwardly of the door 46 in the side wall portion 28 of the body member 21. The plunger is provided with a suitable stop 41 limiting this outward movement. Inward movement of the plunger 43, as shown in Figure 5, results in pivoting the dog 38 about the pin 40 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby moving the latch or dog 38 into the housing 39 and out of engagement with the 30 which may be in the arcuate surface 31 of the latch boss 35. Thus, when the plunger 43 is pushed inwardly, the latching engagement between the dog II and the wall I! of the hinge member is released and the door 25 is then free to move outwardly with respect to the side edge of the door opening, withdrawing the member 33 from the channel of the hinge member and thus allowing the door to swing upon the verticalhinge pin it at the opposite side edge which is still retained in locked position.

When the door has been swung to its open position, the hinge member from which the particular door edge has been released remains in the position shown in Figure 1, and in such position, 'is adapted to receive the projecting portion 33 of the door in the channel thereof as the v 32 of the hinge member, and at the same time,

the projecting edge of cam surface 80 of the the dog II rides up the boss until it passes the end of this surface and swings over into abut ting engagement with the arcuate surface 31. When moved into this position, the spring pressure results in tight abutment or latching engagement therebetween, holding the door with the member 33 securely locked to the hinge memage either inwardly or outwardly therebetween;

be apparent from an analysis of the structure shown in Figure 3 that when the right hand push button 43 is depressed, the latch II is removed from engagement with the abutment I l and the door can then be swung about the left hand hinge pin it to move outwardly of the right hand hinge member If, the left hand edge of the door being held in tight engagement with the left hand hinge member i3 during this swinging movement. Inasmuch as the member 33 is wedged into the channel of the left hand e member in such manner as to be prevented from vertical movement therein and is secured against outward movement therefrom by the latching engagement, it will be apparent that the left hand hinge member and member "at the left hand edge of the door move as a unit about the hinge pin ID as a center during this door The provision of the sealing means insures positive closing of the door with reference to the door opening to prevent any leakage about the and rigidly secured therein edges of the door through the hinge member. The resiliency of such sealing means insures that thelatching engagement will be effective to hold the edges of themembers i6 and 33 in depressed position within the associated sealing means 48 and 49, thereby providing a firm seal and atthe same time providing some resilience tending to spring the member 33 out ofthe hinged channel when the latch is released. Additional resilience is provided for this purpose by the tubular sealing member 30 carried on the inner defining edge of the door which engagesabout the defining edges of the door opening.

Also, it will be apparent that-by providing a. hinge which extends entirelyalong the vertical edge of the door opening a rigid construction with equalized stresses upon or no danger of the hinge pin being over stressed or bent during operation of the mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in pin iii is supported hinge bracket members 52 which are recessed into the defining edges SI of the door opening screws 53 and 54. The member 52 is provided with a reversely. curved portion 55 engaging about the hinge pin 50 for holding it in position. Corresponding members 52 are provided at the upper and lower edges of the door opening, and therefore form spacedivertical supports for the hinge pin. i

Mounted upon the hinge pin intermediate the fixed supporting portions 52 is a hinge member,

indicated generally at 56, having, an elongated reversely curled portion 51 engaging about the hinge pin for pivoting the member 56 thereon. The member 56 is provided with' a portion II which extends along the outer face of the door opening and. with a normally extending channel portion indicated generally at 59 comprising the walls 60 and 82 spaced apart at their rear edges by the transverse web portion ii. The channel portion 59 is adapted to lie against of the door opening, and suitchannel 59 is cut away, as indicated at 63 to provide an opening in which is disposed a detent studs 65 to the inner wall portion 60 of the channel. The detent 64 is provided with an outwardly and rearwardly curved tongue 68 which projects, into the'plane of the wall portion 62, as shown in Figure 8. For purposes of adjustment, the member 64 may be provided with transverse slots in which the studs 85 are disposed, thereby allowing adjustment of the member 64 toward or away from the rear wall I of the channel. It will be apparent that this construction corresponds somewhat to the channel formed by the walls I! and i6 of the channel portion of the hinge me'mber l3 shown in Figures 1 to 5, and that the member 84 corresponds, to-some extent, to the projecting abutment or boss 35 on the wall IS. The door member for the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 10 includes an outer wall-portion III which may be slightly provided with an inturned lateral edgeportion all portions of thev hinge 1 pin is produced, and consequently there is little by means of the convex, and which is I the corresponding edges of the "tical movement within the channel. 59. corresponds to the wedging face of the door member member 10 and may be filled -with insulating material, as de- 4- I2 having a channel-shaped portion 13 projecting substantially normally to the plane: of the door and adapted to extendinto the channel 50 of the hinge. However, thechannel portion I3 comprises a planar wall portion 14 and a wall portion I5 whichfiiares slightly away from the plane of thewall 14 adjacent the openend of the channel. The channel portion 13 of the door is preferably (formed of a sheet metal material which hasso'me degreeof resilience whereby the tapering sh'apeof the channel 13 is adapted to have wedgi g6 engagement in the channel 50. This pr 'e ts lateral relative movement between the); channels, and insures a tight engagement-w, the channel 13 is intmduced into the ch" 1, nel 59. I s 'It will be noted to Figures 7 and 10 tha the channel portion of the door is cut away intermediate its ends to provide thehorizontally extending surfaces I6 which are spaced apart a distance confespondingto the length of the member 64' cd rried upon the hinge. By this arrangement, when the door is swung to closed position, the edges" of the channel 13 engage member 64 to wedging engagement therebetween the channel 13 against relative ver- This action produced between the edges 34 of the member 33 shown in Figure 2, and thefdiverging edges 20 of the spacing tongues I9 disposed in the channel I6 of Figure 1. Thus the'door is held by the wedge shape provide a which locks of the channel I3 against relative lateral movement within the channel 59, and by engagement of the edges I6 with the member 64 is rigidly supported. against relative ve tical movement within the channel 50. Carried on the inner I0 is a body member 18 which has a flange portion I9 secured to the reentrant flange I2 of the door member 10, as by welding or the like, and which is spaced away fromthe door member I0 by reason of the intermediate flange portions 80corresponding to the flange portions 28 of. the body member 21 shown in Figure 3.. Between the outer door the body member 18 the door scribed in connection with Figure 3.

A suitable latch mechanism, which may be of any conventional'type and is shown only for purposes of illustration, is carried within the body member I8 by the housing 82, the latch dog 83 being of altype having the rear-cam face 84 and being spring pressed normally outwardly oi the flange 80. A suitable bell crank lever 05 pivoted within the door and actuated by the plunger 86 operates the latch to move inwardly or outwardly relative to the flange 80.- When in normal latched position, the projecting end of the dog 83. is engaged on the rear edge of the tongue 66 of the member 64, and consequently locks the entire assembly in fixed position similar to the manner in which the latch 38 looks the assembly shown in Figure 5 Suitable sealing means Bl is inte osed the door and the flange portion 58 of the hinge member 56, and corresponding sealing means is disposed within the rear end of the channel 59, as indicated at 88, to be engaged by the forward projecting end of the channel I3. This provides effective sealing between the hinge and door edge. When it is desired to release the door, the plunger 86 is pulled outwardly, moving the latch member 83 into the body member 18 and out of tially the same manner It is to be understood, of course, that the door opening,

such that they tend to swing engagement with the member 64. As a result, the latching engagement'is released between the door edge and the hinge member 56, and the door can then be pulled outwardly from this hinge-member to swing about its opposite pivot at the opposite side edge foropening movement. a similar hinge structure and door' edge arrangement is provided at the opposite side of the door opening, and that the structure functions in substanas described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figuresl to 5,, wherein, release of the latching member at one door edge causes the'door to swing about the hinge arrangement at its opposite vertical edge. I

It will benoted that in both forms of the invention thus far described, suitable sealing means is provided which are resilient in nature the door slightly open'upon release of the latch. At the same time, the" angularity of the surfaces 20 and 30 of the first embodiment and of the ends of the member 64 and the surfaces I6 of the second embodiment produce a component of the weight of the door also tending to force the door open. Thus, release of the latch, in effect, starts the door moving toward open position.

It will also be apparent that with the constructions described thus far, all parts thereof may be made of simple stampings, and since they are substantial duplicates at both sides of only one stamping die for each of the parts is required. This produces economy in manufacture and simplicity in assembly. The adjustability of the latch member 54 in Figure '6 is desired for the purpose of insuring that the sealing means will be properly compressed when the latch member is engaged. It is also to be' been shown more or ess diagrammatically and merely for the purpose of describing the hinge mechanism, conventional latches of the type now in use can be readily emplcyed and adapted for this purpose, and the inven'ion is not intended to be limited to the particular type of latching mechanism disclosed.

between the flange I2 of side wall opening. It will Referring now to the embodiment of the in. vention shown in Figures 11 to 13, a vertical edge of a door opening is indicated generally at I00 and is provided with a recessed portion I02 which extends forwardly toward the door face to meet with a correspondingly recessed portion I03 formed in the defining face I03 of the door opening. Disposed within the recess 503 is a hinge supporting-member I05 whi h may be of the same type as the member 'I of hgures 1 to 5, and is provided with a reversely curled portion'I06 engaging about the hinge pin II! at spacedportions along the pin which extends vertically substantially in the plane of the surface I04. A hinge member I08 is provided with correspondingly curled portions I00 which engage intermediate portions of the hinge pin I01, the hinge member I08 having the normally extnding'fiange or wall H0 lying along the defining surface 'of the recess I02. At its inner end the wall I I0 is provided with a normally extending transverse portion I I2 and terminates in the angular'ly extending flange portion II3, thereby defining a wedge 01' tapering'shaped channel II4 disposed substantially in the plane of the be apparent that the channel portion I I4 of the member I08 is adapted to swing about the pin I01 as a center, and'suitagonal surfaces 20 of the tabs able sealing means H5 is interposed between the member I and the member I to seal this portion of the structure. The member I05 is, of course, permanently secured in the recess I03. Secured to the transverse wall II2 of the channel II4 are one or more spring members II6 which are mounted by means of rivets IT or the like on the inner face of the transverse wall H2, and project into the channel for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The upper and lower edges of the wall II3 are bent at right angles to the plane of. this wall and also at converging angles with respect to the horizontal to provide converging surfaces III at the upper and lower ends of the channel, the converging surfaces IIO terminating in normally extending tabs II 0, which are welded or otherwise secured to the upper and lower ends of the wall IIO to provide an enclosed channel having the converging surfaces, at the upper and lower ends thereof corresponding to the di- I3, which space the walls I5 and I6 apart in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.

The door member for the closure in the form of the invention shown in Figures 11 to 13 may comprise an outer sheet portion I having the reentrant edges I22 and an inner body portion I23 having the normally directed edges I24 corresponding to the edges 20 of the body member 21, and also having a flanged end I25 parallel to and spaced inwardly of the outer wall portion I20. Between the flange I26 and the reentrant edge I22 there is provided a channel shaped stamping I20 having vertically extending parallel flange edges I21 and I20 secured respectively to the flanges I22 and I25 for permanently and rigidly securing the member I20 to the door. The channel portion of the member I20 comprises the walls I20 and I00, which are parallel to and adapted to be disposed within the walls III and H3. The two walls I20 and I30 are connected together by a transverse wall portion I32 which, when the door is in closed position engages against the spring H0 and deforms this spring to some extent. The wall II3 of the channel H4 is provided with a projecting boss I36 having the planar inclined surface I30 and the arcuate cam surface I3I corresponding to the.

surfaces 30 and 31 of the member of Figure 5. A suitable latch member 30 of Figure 5 is adapted to ride up the inclined surface I30 while the door is being closed, and to then move into engagement with the arcuate surface I37 for latching the door in closed position.

Due to the spring pressure of spring II 0 on the transverse wall I32, it will be apparent that upon release of the latch I30 from engagement with the surface I31, the spring IIO will kick the door edge outwardly and start it upon its swinging movement about the remotely disposed hinge pin. However, when the latch remains in position, the channel portions I20 and H4 are telescoped together in tight engagement, it being understood that the upper and lower ends of the channel portion I20 are tapered in accordance with the taper of the surfaces H0, and

consequently the door edge is held both verticall! and laterally firmly within the hinge member I00 so that upon release of the remote latch, the door edge and binge member swing as a unit about the pin I01. It is preferable that the flange portion-I21 of the channel I20 carry a suitable sealing strip I40 for sealing. the hinge structure, the same as described in connection with previous embodiments. By reason of the inclined surface of the walls H3 and I30, it will be noted that the channel I26 is free to move outwardly of the channel II 4 and there will be no binding action produced because of the increasing angularity between the door and the door opening. By having the taper on this side of the door. opening, the opening and closing of the door to provide for the telescoping movement of the two channel members carried by the door and hinge, respectively, is facilitated.

, If desired, a suitable safety spring pressed plunger I can be carried upon the wall I20 and normally urged through an opening I46 therein into a detent opening I" in the wall IIO to insure against release of the door edge from the hinge structure when the opposed or remote latch has been released. A suitable stud I40 normally holds latch I45 out of engagement with openin I41 when in door-closed position.

The latch structure for use with the emb di- I ment of the invention shown in Figures 11 to 13 may correspond to that shown in detail in Figures 1 to 5, or may be any other equivalent latch structure suitable. for the purpose.

In Figure 14 is disclosed the present invention as applied to a domestic refrigerator structure now on the market. In this embodiment, the side wall I50 of the refrigerator has the reentrant flanges I52 defining one lateral surface of the door opening, this flange being connected through the non-metallic fiber or plastic strip I53 to the inner lining wall I54 of the refrigerator I cabinet.

Mounted on the wall I52 in a manner such as described in the previous embodiments is a hinge pin I55 having the hinge member I56, pivotally mounted thereon. The member I 50 has a planar portion I51 overlying the outer defining surface of the wall I50 and an inwardly bent channel portion I50 over which is molded the vertically extending bar I 50 of a suitable hard setting plastic material, having the outwardly projecting converging guide walls I60. This bar extends substantially the full height of the door opening and is rigidly secured to hinge member I06 for conjoint movement therewith.

The closure or door has the outer defining I62 provided with the inturned edge portion I03 to which is secured the resilient sealing strip I04 of conventional design. At its end the portion I03 is flanged, as at I05, to provide a support for a sealing means I 00 and a non-metallic spacing strip I01 connected to the inner door liner I08.

Secured to the door edge I63 ,between sealing strip I64 and sealing means I06 is a vertically extending channel-shaped trough member I63 secured at its base by screws or other detachable means to the portion I03 of the door. The side walls I10 oi the channel member I00 are angled to mate with and receive therein the outwardly projecting wedge portion I00 of bar I00, thereby interlocking the door edge and hinge member against relative lateral movement. Suitable means at the opposite ends of channel member I00 engage the opposite ends of the bar when in interlocking engagement to hold the door edge against relative vertical movement. This may correspond to the ends III of the channel II2 of Figure 11, or its equivalent.

In order to maintain the door edge and hinge" member I00 in rigid interlocking engagement. the door at each of its lateral edges is provided 7 strips I53 and I p n with latch means comprising a plunger I12 normally urged outwardly and having the cam face I13 which forces the plunger inwardly as'the door is being closed. This face rides over the outer wall I60 of bar I59 until after it passes the corner I14, whereupon the latching face I15 of the plunger engages against the rear face I16 of the bar I59, holding the channel member I69 firmly in engagement with bar I597. The latching -means may of course be of any desired-form capable of operating in this manner.

It is to be understood that both lateral edges of the door and the opening are constructed in the manner described, and provided with corresponding hinging means, so that the door may be selectively opened about either door edge.

With the construction shown in Figure 14, the H51 prevent thermal transmission between the outer and inner metal walls, and by making the bar I59 of a plastic no thermal transmission or condensation is produced on the hinging means. Of course, if sodesired, a metal member may be substituted for the bar' I59 without in any way changing the construction or operation. a

It is therefore believed apparent that Ihave provided a novel type of hinging structure for opposed vertical edges of a door or closure member, whereby the door can be selectively swung for opening and closing movement about either edge with the opposite edge locked in tight hinging engagement with hinge means of simple but rugged design. Also, the present construction will allow removal of the entire door if and when desired.

It will also be apparent that the present construction lends itself admirably to use of present types of refrigerator door structures, and also provides adequate means for sealing the structure means pivotally supported along the vertical edges of said opening and having movable portions extending vertically within said opening for substantially the entire vertical extent thereof and lying against the vertical sides of said hinge engaging means extending normally to and secured to the inner face of said door having tongue and groove interlocking en gagement with said hinge portions for substantially the entire length thereof, and latch means carried by said door adjacent each vertical edge thereofand selectively engageable with said hinge portions for locking said normally extending means on said door in-said. hinge portions. 2. The combination of claim 1 hinge portions comprise vertically extending outweirdlydirected channels having closed upper *and'lowe'r ends.

for a door to swing about 3. Means v edge of a rectangular door open either vertical ing-comprising ahingeelemept pivotally secured wherein said various details of construction 7 herein described and illustrated may be varied to each of the verticaledges of the door opening and having a reversely bent portion lying within the defining edge of, the opening and forming an outwardly directed channel extending substantially the full length of said opening, a second hinge element secured to the door having a normally directed flange at each vertical edge of the door adapted to extend into said channel when the door is closed, means on said channel forming a lateral abutment substantially midway of the length thereof, and spring controlled latch means carried by said door adjacent each vertical edge engageable with said abutment for locking said door edge to said channel for conjoint pivotal movement with the associated hinge element.

4. The combination of claim 3 further characterized by inwardly converging wedge surfaces a? the hinge element engageable by corresponding wedge surfaces on said door flange for maintaining the door flange against vertical movement relative to said channel therein.

5. The combination of claim 3 further characterized by the provision of resilient means in the base of each of said channels for urging the door flange outwardly therefrom upon the release of said latching means.

6. Means for mounting a door to swing about either vertical edge of a door opening comprising a hinge element pivotally mounted upon the w front of each of the defining vertical edges of said opening, said element extending substantially the full length of said opening and having a normally extending flange portion disposed within the opening, hinge means on the door having vertically extending hinge elements projecting normal to the plane of the door adjacent each vertical edge thereof, one of said hinge elements at each side of the opening including a channel shaped portion adapted to receive the other cooperating hinge element, means for latching said elements together for conjoint swinging movement about the pivotal mounting of said first-named hinge element when the latchand 1 ing engagement at the opposite lateral edge of the door opening is released.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the cooperating elements at each side of the opening have wedge surfaces engageable in latched position to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween i 8. The combination of claim 6 further characterized by means locking said associated elements together independently of said latching means upon swingingmovement of thedoor about the associated edge. V

9. Means for mounting a door to swing about either edge of a door opening comprising a hinge element pivotally mounted at each vertical edge of the openingand having a portion disposed within and lying against the sidelof said opening, said portion extending substantially the full length of said opening and including a rigid vertically extending non-metallic member presenting an outwardly directed laterally converging surface, the side edges of the door being extended 'to overlie said element, cooperating hinge elements on the door edge having an inwardly opening channel at each vertical edge of the door in. alinement with and coextensive with said portion of said first hinge element, said channel being wedge-shaped to fit over said non-metallic member when the door is in closed position, and

latchingmeans at each lateral edge of the door when engaged engageable with said flrst hinge element conjoint swingin for ovement when the latching means at the po'slte door edge is released.

10. Hinge means for optionally hinging a door toswing about either vertical edge of a door opening, comprising a vertically extended hinge element pivoted on the front face of each-vertical deflning'edgeof said opening and including a wedge-shaped vertically extending portion offset into said opening and formed ofa heat insulating material, a verticallyv extending channelment and said wedge-shaped portion 01' said first hinge element in interlocked engagement for swinging movement about the pivot support 01' said first hinge element.

11. Means foruhinging a door to swing optionally about"" either vertical edge of a corresponding door opening, comprising hinge elements secured to the inner surface of the door adjacent each vertical edge thereof and each 7 element including achannel-shaped portion of substantial vertical extent opening toward the dooropening, hinging element pivotally mounted on vertically extending pivots on the front surface of the vertical walls defining'the vertical edges of the door opening and in line with the outer defining vertical edges of-the door, said second hinging elements each including a flat portion extending laterally toward each other and carrying vertically extending wedge elements adapted to be engaged in said channelshaped portions when the door is in closed position, and latching means carried by the door adjacent each of said hinge elements and including a'latch'member engageable with the associated wedge element to maintain it engaged in said channel-shaped portions, means being selectively operable to release said hinge and hinging elements at one side of said door for opening said door by pivotal movement about the opposite hinge element pivot.

12. The hinge means of claim 11 further characterized in that one of each pair of interengaging hinge elements is non-metallic and of heat insulating character.

CHARLES E. CAMPBELL.

said latching 

